The Early Childhood Administration program provides a comprehensive study of the management and leadership skills needed to effectively administer an early childhood program. The target audience is current directors and assistant directors of center-based early childhood programs in Illinois. However, the content of individual courses and workshops may interest others in the field who hold related supervisory or managerial positions such as preschool owners, Head Start component coordinators, state-funded prekindergarten coordinators, and consultants who work with early childhood programs.

The curriculum rests on the assumption that effective administrators are also effective educators. Directors need a solid knowledge base in the areas of child development, curriculum, guidance, family systems, assessment, social and cultural diversity, and professional ethics. The program provides both a review and a higher level understanding of many of these core concepts. The management courses cover key competency areas of program administration including: legal and fiscal issues; staff supervision and human relations; program operations and facilities management; marketing and public relations; program evaluation; leadership and advocacy; and technology.

The program is highly flexible. Students have a choice of several electives from when to select and may complete the degree requirements on a full-time or part-time basis. Students residing outside the Chicago metropolitan area can take courses that combine a weekend intensive with an on-line delivery format. As part of the degree sequence all students attend a six-day summer residential institute and two weekend retreats. Through electronic networking, they are connected to instructors, experts in the field, and other directors from around the state.

Core Requirements (3 s.h.)

FND546

Perspectives on and Administration of Educational Policies

(3 s.h.)

Program Requirements (16 s.h.)

ECE510	Child, Family, and Community	(3 s.h.)
ECE512	Early Childhood Curriculum	(2 s.h.)
ECE525	Strategies for Supervision and Staff Development	(3 s.h.)
EPS526	Organizational Theory, Group Dynamics, & Leadership Applications	(3 s.h.)
ECE515	Financial and Legal Aspects of Child Care Management	(3 s.h.)
ECE593	Seminar/Early Childhood Education	(2 s.h.)

11 s.h. of electives in consultation with advisor:

Courses

ECE534	Technology in Child Care Administration	(2 s.h.)
ECE536	The Director as Child Care Advocate	(1-2 s.h.)
ECE538	Individual and Organizational Perspectives on Adult Development	(2 s.h.)
ECE540	Grantswriting and Fundraising for Early Childhood Programs	(1-2 s.h.)
ECE542	Public Relations and Marketing of Early Childhood Programs	(1-2 s.h.)
ECE544	Early Childhood Environments: Design & Facilities Management	(2 s.h.)
ECE594	Independent Study	(1-3 s.h.)

Workshops

ECE582E	Implementing a Family Responsive Program	(2-3 s.h.)
ECE582D	The Administration of School-Age Child Care Programs	(2 s.h.)
ECE582C	Early Childhood Program Evaluation	(2 s.h.)
ECE585R	The Reggio Emilia Approach	(2 s.h.)
ECE584A	Multicultural and Anti-Bias Education	(1 s.h.)
ECE582F	The New Director	(2-3 s.h)
ECE582G	Writing and Editing for Effective Communication	(1 s.h.)

Total: 30 s.h.